Re: This Week in Hockey East
1,2,3- BU, BC, NU
Gap
4,5,6, 7 UNH, PC, UVM, Maine
Gap
8. UConn
I think this year it's all about the tiers, how teams finish within those tiers I have no idea. The first tier I have are the Boston teams. All 3 are capable of winning the regular season and postseason championships and I wholeheartedly believe this. BC and NU are similar in that they both have tons of depth and NU has Schelling who I believe will be Goaltender of the Year. BU has huge discrepancies in talent. They have the high end players (Wakefield, Poulin, Kohanchuk, etc) but than it really drops off from there. After watching the first 4 games, I can say BU's biggest weakness right now is EV play and biggest strength is special teams, which once again I attribute to this discrepancy in talent/finishing ability. Also, BU is playing without Poulin until the 2nd half of the season which makes the discrepancy even more pronounced as, due to a lack of depth, players who were previous 4th liners who got maybe a shift a game are now playing on 1st/2nd lines.
The next tier once again I think is a total toss up in terms of where they finish. They all have their respective strengths and weaknesses.
My gut says UConn is going to finish last this year and have trouble competing with the talent and depth of the 7 other teams.
Regular Season and Tourney Winners? BU obviously
1,2,3- BU, BC, NU
Gap
4,5,6, 7 UNH, PC, UVM, Maine
Gap
8. UConn
I think this year it's all about the tiers, how teams finish within those tiers I have no idea. The first tier I have are the Boston teams. All 3 are capable of winning the regular season and postseason championships and I wholeheartedly believe this. BC and NU are similar in that they both have tons of depth and NU has Schelling who I believe will be Goaltender of the Year. BU has huge discrepancies in talent. They have the high end players (Wakefield, Poulin, Kohanchuk, etc) but than it really drops off from there. After watching the first 4 games, I can say BU's biggest weakness right now is EV play and biggest strength is special teams, which once again I attribute to this discrepancy in talent/finishing ability. Also, BU is playing without Poulin until the 2nd half of the season which makes the discrepancy even more pronounced as, due to a lack of depth, players who were previous 4th liners who got maybe a shift a game are now playing on 1st/2nd lines.
The next tier once again I think is a total toss up in terms of where they finish. They all have their respective strengths and weaknesses.
My gut says UConn is going to finish last this year and have trouble competing with the talent and depth of the 7 other teams.
Regular Season and Tourney Winners? BU obviously
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